Max Verstappen has been linked with a sensational move away from Red Bull in 2026 with Aston Martin reportedly chasing the Dutchman’s signature. Should he leave, Christian Horner faces a difficult conundrum regarding the team’s new driver pairing.
What is clear is that Horner will want a superstar driver to replace the three-time world champion. The likes of Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar and even 16-year-old Arvid Lindblad are exciting prospects in the Red Bull stable, but none are likely to be World Championship contenders in 2026.
Instead, Horner would likely turn his attention to Lando Norris. The McLaren star has so far been extremely loyal to the team that propelled him through the junior categories and into F1, but with Verstappen out of the picture, he may finally be able to lure the Brit to Milton Keynes.
Red Bull’s admiration for Norris is no secret. During the latest season of the Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive, Horner said: “We’d certainly be interested in him. If he’s delivering, he’s not gonna be short of choices. He’s just gotta sure he makes the right choice.”
The Red Bull team principal then added: “I admire Lando’s loyalty to McLaren, but, at some point, that will wear thin. I think he would fit in our environment longer-term.”
Helmut Marko has also made his appreciation for the Brit known. “He is young and certainly in our focus,” he told ServusTV earlier this year. “His father always jokes that Lando won’t celebrate his first Grand Prix victory until Max retires. I told him that he had to come to us, then it would definitely go faster.”
If Red Bull could lure Norris away from McLaren then they would likely partner him with a driver from within their system. That man is unlikely to be Sergio Perez, who will do well to hold onto his seat in 2025, let alone 2026.
Daniel Ricciardo will likely face a similar fate if his performances don’t turn around in the final 10 races of 2024, meaning Yuki Tsunoda and Lawson are the most likely candidates to step up to Red Bull in 2026.
The former is a known quantity having spent four years at VCARB, but despite his mighty form this year, doubts remain about his ability to handle the pressure of driving for Red Bull. Those doubts are not present in the team’s assessment of Lawson, who they rate extremely highly.
The New Zealander looks to be a shoo-in for a seat at VCARB in 2025, and with a strong rookie year, he could find himself stepping up to Red Bull in 2026. Horner is reportedly impressed with the 22-year-old’s confidence and attitude, and this would make him an ideal potential team-mate for Norris.
